Sometimes my wonderful 10 year old son, D, makes me so proud that I get choked up, teary eyed, and cry.
And yes, that IS worth its very own blog post. 
I love you, my beautiful son!
Marblesoft-Simtech is a software company that produces software for children with special needs. Most of the software can be switch activated or used with a keyboard, mouse, or laptop touchpad.
Switch Kids is a software package used to teach cause and effect with a goal. This software package includes three separate games each keeping the attention of all four of my children (ages 2-10). The games include Funny Sounds and Faces, Bubble Gum, and Build-A-Kid.
Funny Sounds and Faces produces a face with different expressions on the screen with each click/touch/switch use. My kids enjoyed watching the faces and giggling at them, but we also used this to teach how each expression correlates with the way a person is feeling.
For my son with high functioning autism, this was great because he often cannot make that connection. For my younger children, it was fun for them to guess where the face would come up next and which expression would be on the face.
Bubble Gum is a game where the person on the game is chewing gum and blowing bubbles. With each click of the mouse/switch, the bubble gets bigger until it fills the entire screen and pops all over the face. There are many options to use with this including different colors of gum and random early popping of the gum.
Since my kids, like most, love gum and messes, this game was endless fun for them. Even my 10 year old, who I thought would find the game silly, was laughing hysterically every time the gum popped. The options to change it up kept a surprise hidden and the kids that like surprises enjoyed that.
Build-A-Kid is a game that involves building the kid from the first circle of his/her head all the way down to the shoes on his/her feet. Each time the mouse/switch is activated, another part of the body is added to the person. It starts with the circle for the head, ears, eyes, and so on. Once the body is built, it begins adding the clothes and each of the kids has his/her own outfit and name.
My younger children seemed to be constantly surprised by the outfits and hairstyles that each kid appeared with. Again, this game kept their interest. They all loved giggling and naming the parts of the body and type of clothes that came with each click.
Exciting News from Marblesoft-Simtech
There has been a recent addition of an iPad/iPod app for SwitchKids. The app is available in a lite version and the full version. Both are available in the iTunes store if you search SwitchKids or Marblesoft. The lite version is $0.99 and the full version with more features is available for $19.99. I installed the lite version on my 10yo son’s iPod and have found him secretly playing and enjoying it. It works very well on the iPod, and is priced very reasonably, especially in relation to the cost of other special education apps.
Also, for students who have difficulty using the iPad, Marblesoft is now offering a bluetooth enabled switch device called the Blue2 Bluetooth Switch. This allows blue tooth connection between your Apple device and the switch controller giving the hands free option for switch controlled apps. The device offers the option of two switches and ports to plug in your own switches for more individualization.
Stay tuned, Marblesoft is planning the release of more apps in the iTunes store soon!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this software from Marblesoft-Simtech in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own based on observing my children as they used the software. Marblesoft-Simtech has also provided a partial sponsorship for my attendance at the 2:1 Conference in April. Thank you, Marblesoft-Simtech!
Leading up to the Titus 2:1 Conference, I began to pray that all of the women who attended, especially me, would have our mouths quiet, our minds clear, and our hearts open. I prayed that we would all be still and listen to His words and that He would answer any prayer requests we had, any questions we had, and confirm that we were all walking in the path that God has laid out for us.
Let me start by saying, I don’t think any of us were quiet. Wow! When you get that many God-loving women in one room, there is no such thing as quiet. Instead, there was a lot of chatter and laughter. It was some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard…the song of God’s love coming from the mouths of all of these beautiful women!
Spiritually, however, we were quiet. We did have clear minds and open hearts, I think we were all listening to what God had to say while we were there. Reading the other wrap up posts leads me to believe that we all heard God speaking directly to our hearts and telling each of us exactly what we were supposed to hear.
I went to the conference with the idea that I would continue to write the type of posts I have been, but that I would also start to monetize. Hey, other people make money on their blogs, why shouldn’t I have a piece of that pie? Let me tell you why…God spoke directly to me in the first blogging breakout session I attended. It was not the subtle, monetizing is a lot of work and you don’t have time. It was God speaking loud and clear.
Lena, this blog is about you glorifying me.
This blog is not the way for you to bring in a few extra bucks;
this blog is about me and only me.
So, no, you will not monetize,
instead you will continue to write and glorify me.
Truthfully, I was kind of relieved. After listening to all of those women talking about monetizing their blogs, I knew that was a whole lot of work! Lol (Let me add that I believe if an opportunity that will both benefit my family and glorify God comes along, I will pray about it. This being a review, giveaway, or an affiliate program…not advertising space, money making opportunities that have nothing to do with our family or my blog, etc.)
I also went to this conference in hopes of finding a reading curriculum for Spike and Pouty for next year. Chad and I have decided that since getting Spike into the same school as David is not possible, I will homeschool her. Since Pouty is right on Spike’s heels, I’ll go ahead and homeschool her too.
Both girls are doing very well with their pre-reading skills and are on the verge of making that leap, so I knew what I wanted for them – a scripted reading program. I wanted something like SRA or Hooked on Phonics. Instead, what I got was a loud and clear message from God.
The basis of all academic achievement is in Me.
Your children need to know not only that they are Christians,
but they need to know what it means to be a Christian.
They need to know who I am, why they believe what they believe,
and they need to be able to tell others and defend their faith.
Until you have that in place, all of the other academic stuff is just that…stuff.
And so, I ended up buying the first text in the series by Apologia, Who am I? We will be using that as an evening devotional with all of our children. God did not tell me Spike needs this. He said, they need to know…ALL of my children need to know this. Then, only after I was obedient to his words about my children knowing Him, did He also lead me to a reading curriculum that looks like a lot of fun! I can hardly wait to get it and start using it. I think both of my girls will be readers in no time flat!
Finally, as with all things that involve a close talk with God, I asked him to help me hear His words about my sweet D. I always look to him for affirmation in raising my children, especially in raising D. Again, God told me the same thing he always does. The same thing he told me when D was 5, the same thing he told me when he was 7, the same thing he told me when he was 9, in residential treatment, and I was reading the Bible in 90 Days. He was very basic and to the point.
Lena, David is my chosen one. David was a man after my own heart.
I took care of David in the Old Testament.
What makes you think I would forsake him now? David is still
my chosen child and he will do great things.
Wow, when I sit with an open heart and a clear mind, God speaks so clearly and loudly. There were many other things in the conference that were clearly God things and all I can say is,
To God Be The Glory!!
